Hard core! Apple peeling champion slices through competition to produce nearly four-metre strip of skin

"Kerrie Stratford, 65, is the undisputed champion of apple peeling. There is no competition. She has won 21 titles at the Queensland town's biannual festival, claiming a shelf full of trophies including one tasteful prize that is a rock with a peeler on top of it."

"I held the fastest and longest, both titles, for quite a while, she says. But as I've gotten older my speed isn't there any more. Arthritis is coming in."

"This is clearly an art. Stratford is not just peeling thin lines of skin, she is taking part of the flesh so the peel won't break. Around the table there are cries of disappointment as other peels break."

At the Stanthorpe apple and grape harvest festival in Queensland, Kerrie Stratford, 65, is the dominant force in competitive apple peeling with 21 championship titles. Despite claiming nonchalance about her success, she faces mounting pressure to maintain her records. The festival features two main contests: fastest apple peeling and longest unbroken peel. Stratford acknowledges that arthritis has diminished her speed over time, though she remains highly skilled. In the fastest peeling contest, cookery writer Kim McCosker wins. During the longest peel competition, Stratford demonstrates technical mastery by peeling thin skin while incorporating flesh to prevent breakage, a strategy other competitors lack. The event showcases both the competitive spirit and artistry involved in apple peeling.

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